Wedding photographer shot dead after he asked bride and groom to pose with GUNS

Tragedy: Wedding photographer Calogero Scimea was shot dead after he asked the bride and groom to pose with guns

A wedding photographer was accidentally shot dead after he asked the happy couple to pose with guns as part of the big day celebrations, Italian police have revealed.

Calogero Scimea, 45, was hit in the head after one of the guns went off.

He died in front of horrified bride Valentina Anitra, 22, and groom Ignazio Licodia, 25, as well as their parents.

Police said the tragedy happened just before the couple, who are teenage sweethearts, set off for their local church at Altofonte near Palermo on the island of Sicily.

Police were today questioning them as well as their relatives.

Prosecutors said the groom's parents rail worker Mario, 56, and his wife Rita, face possible charges of negligence leading to manslaughter, as the tragedy happened at their house.

Officers said the bride's parents, who live nearby, were also asked if they had any guns and went home to bring one of their own. All the firearms were legally held.

Ballistics experts have also been called in to examine the weapons, which were hunting rifles kept for shooting mainly wild boar in the nearby hills and countryside.

Palermo police spokesman Colonel Teo Luzi said: 'From what we have been able to establish the photographer had asked the parents of the bride and groom if they had any guns to use as props in a picture and one went off hitting him in the head killing him.

'He was only there as a favour for the wedding photographer who had been originally been booked but had to pull out as he was ill. The bride and groom were distraught and the wedding was immediately cancelled.

'The prosecutor is looking at bringing charges against the groom's parents as this is where the death took place but we need to examine the ballistics report first as the bride's parents also brought a weapon.'

Teenage sweethearts: Bride Valentina Anitra and groom Ignazio Licodia were posing for pictures on their big day when the accident happened

He added: 'The firearms were legally held but in the interests of
safety they should all be kept safe and not be handled by people who
are not used to them and have no experience.

'What we are trying to establish is if the gun went off as it was
being handled by the photographer or if it went off as it was handed to
him but no-one is being very talkative.'

In southern Italy and especially Sicily it is common for guns to be
fired at family events or festivals as part of the celebrations and in
the past this has led to numerous deaths and injuries especially around
New Year.

Altofonte's deputy mayor Angela Busellini said: 'No-one can believe
it. Everybody is in a state of shock. It's such a tragic accident. The
bride and groom are devastated.'